Combined separator and volatilizer



Nov. 11, 1952 J. A. FENN 2,617,720

COMBINED SEPARATOR AND VOLATILIZER med Jan. 10. 1948 "HIM IN V EN TOR.

James /I. 751/7 16 15 Atty/1 Patented Nov. 11,1952

James A. Fenn, Chicago, 111., .assignon toUniversal Vaporizer Corp-., Chicago, Illua corporation of Illinois.

Application January 10, 1'94'8;SerialN0. 1,633:

My invention relates to a combined separator and volatilizer especially designed and adapted for use in the fuel supply line of an internal combustion engine, and the device is particularly adaptable for connection between the intake manifold and the carburetor of the engine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device such that the gaseous fluid as passed therethrough will be directed through a spiral serpentine course, causing the fluid to set up centrifugal action, thereby to throw against the various baffles provided by the spiral serpentine course or path to break up the heavier particles not volatilized by the centrifugal action of the fluid through the pathway. Such particles as are not broken up will be diverted from the course of the lighter or volatilized fluid and returned-to the manifold where they will again be subjected to centrifugal action. Such a device results in a more effective operation of the internal combustion engine, permitting maximum timing adjustment without running a hot motor. By the use of my device in connection with an internal com bustion engine, the amount of gasoline used for the operation of the device i substantially reduced over that used on a similar motor without embodying my device. The device also reduces carbon formation and at all times maintains a cool and effective operating motor, thereby resulting in obtaining greater mileage per gallon of gasoline or other combustible fluid.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the relationship between the device embodying my invention and the carburetor and intake manifold of an internal combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device detached from the carburetor and intake manifold;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is an internal plan view of the same with the cover of the device removed.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, my improved separator and volatilizer is indicated at [0. This separator and volatilizer is connected between the carburetor H and the intake manifold l2 of the internal combustion engine.

The separator and volatilizer comprises a body l3 formed of such material as will best serve the purpose and will afford the minimum of weight.

1 Claim. (01'. 4a .1,s

In this body lO- thereis formed a spiral serpentine passage l4. Communicating at one end of the passage H. is an outlet port 15 provided by a projection it having an end terminal terminating into a flange ll by which the body I3 is attached to a companion flange It on the intake manifold I2. The center of the spiral serpentine passage M constitutes a bore l9 which registers with. an inlet port 26 formed in a flange 2! adapted to be connected to the companion flange 22 of the carburetor II. This flange 2! is formed as an integral part of a cover 22' connected to the body l3 by a plurality of bolts 23. Between the body [3 and the cover 22' is a packing or sealing ring 24 of any suitable material. The spiral serpentine pathway provides a number of bafiles indicated at 25 against which the unbroken gaseous fluid particles are thrown by centrifugal force of the passage of the fluid through the pathway, and these bafiles 25, together with a suitable screen 25, cooperate toaccomplish this breaking-up operation so as to substantially dehydrate the gasoline vapor which has emitted from the carburetor, all for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

The explosive fluid enters the intake manifold from the carburetor in a more or less volatilized condition. The suction in the intake manifold produced by the cylinders of the engine or the force of the passage of the fuel under the operation of a fluid pump, converts the travel of the fuel through the body It into a centrifugal action. As the intake is at the center of the spiral, the fluid must of necessity flow through a spiral pathway to the end thereof, from whence it passes into the intake manifold. As this spiral is serpentine in formation, the fuel is thrown against the several baffles 25 and forced through the screen 26, the mesh of which screen may be relatively small. In this passage of the fluid through this spiral serpentine passage, the centrifugal action thus set up is such that the fuel striking these several baffles and in its passage through the screen will have separated therefrom the heavy particles of liquid hydrocarbon as well as any foreign material. The volatilized gases will then pass from the device into the intake manifold and thence into the engine.

A cooler operating motor is accomplished by the use of the device herein set forth.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction 3 set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a combined separator and volatilizer, a thick disk-like body having a continuous uninterrupted passage therethrough, said passage having an inlet end extending downwardly from the top \of the body substantially at the center of the body top, said passage having a radial section extending from the lower part of said inlet end, said passage having a main portion surrounding said inlet and extending from the outer end of the radial section in a series of alternately inwardly and outwardly curving sections arcuate in plan, said main portion having an outlet extending from its terminal end downwardly adjacent the outer end of the radial section.

JAMES A. FENN.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,868 Riotte et al Dec. 22, 1914 1,143,902 Haberkorn June 22, 1915 1,801,446 Muhr Apr. 21, 1931 2,033,753 Bucklen Mar. 10, 1936 2,097,216 Schreurs Oct. 26, 1937 2,136,719 Weinberg Nov. 15, 1938 p FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,887 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1910 of 1910 

